Another question re:winter chicks

[Scotty from BI]

So I have decided, based on some very good advice of members here to start my one day old chicks in a mamma heating pad cave. I have 18 large breed chicks that will be delivered in October so I don't have them yet. This is my first time using the heating pad cave and there will be no other heat source. In the past I used a red heat lamp so they were in light 24 hours every day. This worked well at first because it helped them to get oriented. The hours of darkness are now getting longer than daylight hours.

My question is this; how many hours of artificial light do they need? Should I light them 24 hours for a few days and then use natural light schedule? That would put them in darkness for about 13 hours and more as days decrease. Don't they need to go out of the cave during the night to drink or eat?

I have lights in the coop on a timer but know what to set them at?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You might get a better answer posting in the heating pad thread. I have always used a heat lamp because of the control it gives me. I know my chicks are at the right temperatures. The pad requires the chicks to regulate themselves. I haven't seen any of the bad efforts people talk about using a heat lamp.

Hopefully someone else more familiar with the system will answer your questions.

 

[Scotty from BI]

One advantage of the heat lamp is that you can easily monitor their condition and activity. You have no idea what's happening in that cave without lifting it which will make them nervous about going in it after awhile after repeatedly picking it up to check on them. Also chickens poop alot at night. With 18 chicks huddled together for over 13 hours there has to be a lot of poop in there.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

One advantage of the heat lamp is that you can easily monitor their condition and activity. You have no idea what's happening in that cave without lifting it which will make them nervous about going in it after awhile after repeatedly picking it up to check on them. Also chickens poop alot at night. With 18 chicks huddled together for over 13 hours there has to be a lot of poop in there.

I totally agree with you. I don't understand the advantages of their use, but that's just me.